Pistons Snap Skid in Sacramento

The Pistons and their fans are smiling today after the Detroit snapped their four game losing streak with a 97-90 win in Sacramento. What’s even more encouraging is that Detroit won on the road in a hostile Sacramento area that set a new world record Friday night for the loudest indoor crowd noise in an arena.Key Points:

The Pistons were led by Josh Smith, who put up 21 points, with eight boards, seven assists, five steals and four blocked shots. This from a man who only a couple of days ago got limited time on the floor. Smith came out in strong in this one and didn’t let up, setting the tone on both ends of the court. This is the Josh Smith the Pistons signed up for.

Maurice Cheeks: “He got us going, but I thought more important he got us going defensively. The way he closed off the paint, got his hands on a lot of balls, come up with a couple of steals and made a lot of nice passes to guys running down the floor. I thought he was the one that ignited us to get that lead in the early going.” Via Pistons.com

Cheeks, who’s still not sure what to do with this rotation, gave Kentavious Caldwell-Pope his first career start in Billups absence.

Caldwell-Pope scored seven points with two boards and two assist in 21 minutes on the floor.

Singler with 22 minutes on the floor with hustle as always put up 11 points with three boards and assist and a blocked shot. I just with his three-point shot would start dropping on a more consistent basis. But to his defense I can say that about the Pistons in general.

Most are wondering by Jonas isn’t getting a ton of minuets, my guess is they need to see what Caldwell-Pope and Datome can do. Jerebko with 7 minutes and two points.

Detroit started this game on a mission, and didn’t let up till the final buzzer was blown. Nice to see after the blowout at Golden State.

Huge night for Andre Drummond, who had another HUGE night. Drummond, the dunking machine who was ruthless on the glass, tied his career high with 18 boards. His dominance on the boards helps him clean up Detroit’s mistakes with ridiculous dunks. He put up 15 points and added two steals in his 36 minutes on the floor. I have to believe that Andre is turning heads every time he steps into opponents arenas. How can you not take notice of Dre?

Photo Getty Images – Editing Need4Sheed.com

The game went back and forth with six lead changes, but a 16-4 run by the Pistons late in the third quarter gave them a ten point lead going into the fourth. The Pistons took that lead and finished the Kings off, never really letting them get close.

I wonder if Rodney Stuckey is upset he didn’t get the start, but considering he got more minutes than KCP, probably not. I’m guessing Cheeks likes the spark Rodney brings off the bench for Detroit. Stuckey with 16 points, 4 assist and a blocked shot in 30 minutes on the floor. Rodney has been solid since the season started for him.

Greg Monroe didn’t have his usual battle with DeMarcus Cousins, mostly because Smith and Drummond were having big games. If you’re counting though, DeMarcus led his team with 26 points and 13 points. Greg with just eight points, four boards in 29 minutes. This game was not a bright spot in a huge start to the season for Monroe.

A fun game to watch and even better that they came out with the win.

Highlight via NBA.com

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LA Lakers at the Staples Center Sunday may start a winning streak.

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11 Responses to "Pistons Snap Skid in Sacramento"

1. Big road win for the Pistons
2. JSmoove played most of the game and had a big game.
3. Dre started slow defensively but finished strong with anothe double/double
4. Jennings had a decent game. When he distributes he is good but then he throws up some questionable shots.
5. KCP started and brought energy, speed and defense that Billups can not.
6. Good game for Stuck and Singler off the bench.
7. The Pistons main weakness is still their 3 pt shooting and their 3 pt defense.

Good game! Dre are going too be one off the best C in tha NBA pretty soon! 18 Rebounds thats crazy! J Smoove wow what a game.
Hoping too se more of JJ soon, from the bench! Like how Sheed talked to Dre under the game =)

I think a lot of this 3 point defense is a deliberate scheme by Mo Cheeks. Not sure why he likes his current system but I think he just wants to get the other team to give up on the paint entire and try to win the game at the 3 point line. Sort of dare them to win the entire game with 3’s. The problem is too many teams can do it!

The Pistons should be a much better rebounding and defensive team (points allowed). KCP starting will help and he has the speed to help the fast break also. He shot 37% from 3 pt land in college, so hopefully his outside shot will start falling with more playing time. The Pistons potentially could have 6 players averaging double figures if KCP gets starter minutes and with Stuck as our main 6th man off the bench. Hopefully, our Euro boys, JJ and Gigi, get a chance to show what they can do too.
BEAT THE LAKERS!